Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Nevermoor book 2. Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9780734418227
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: Magical realism, Fantasy,
Coming of Age, Missing Persons. Jessica Townsend's second book is a
richly rewarding read, fast-paced, brimful of powerful magic,
foreboding dark forces and amazing wonderfulness. Twelve-year-old
Mog's life is about to change, she's beginning her academic journey
at the elite Wundrous Society. Her confidence and loyalty are tested
as she develops her Wundersmith powers and tries to make friends
with her Unit 919 brothers and sisters. Luckily her best friend
Hawthorne Swift's part of the unit, his unswerving belief in her
helps during some of the most difficult times she faces.
Morrigan's left to fend for herself, as she struggles with her
school life. She only has one class, the History of Heinous Wundrous
Acts which frighteningly relay all the 'missteps, blunders and
fiascos' enacted by former Wundersmiths. With her patron Jupiter
North busy investigating the mysterious disappearance of Wunsoc
members, she doesn't have any adult to confide in and help her in
the difficult times. There is a dark side to the city of Nevermoor,
villain Ezra Squall and his eerie Hunt of Shadow and Smoke return,
holding Ghostly Markets selling the most frightening goods. A
devious blackmailer is determined to break up Unit 919 and lure
Morrigan away from safety, delivering her into Squall's clutches so
he can use her for his nefarious plans.
Townsend's fast-paced narrative is powerful; the world of Nevermoor
is wonderfully detailed and descriptive. Travelling by brolly rail,
delicious feasts and the quirky, funny Deucalion Hotel characters
will be delightfully familiar to the fans of Nevermoor. As we
venture down Tricksy Lanes and discover evil forces at play, the
author opens our eyes to the malevolent powers at play. Wundersmith:
The Calling of Morrigan Crow continues to reveal the strength
of the protagonist's character, her depths, insecurities and her
determination to right the wrongs she encounters.
Jessica Townsend's much awaited second novel is powerful and
relatable, resonating with themes of friendship, loyalty,
inclusiveness, activism, happiness and humour and the power of good
and evil.
Rhyllis Bignell
An absolutely remarkable thing by Hank Green
Trapeze, 2018. ISBN 9781473224193
(Age: Young adults+) A recent graphic design graduate working in New
York comes across a larger than life sculpture on the sidewalk on
her way home from a late stint at the office. The robot sculpture so
impresses her that she rings a friend and together they name it Carl
and make a YouTube video. By the morning their video has gone viral
and 23 year old April May and her friend Andy Skampt are famous, not
just because they made the video but because they were the first to
name and publicise the sculptures which have popped up all over the
world simultaneously and are now universally known as 'the Carls'.
All of their training in visual engineering comes into play and
Andy's lawyer dad ensures they get paid for the use of their
material and all their media appearances. April begins the process
of 'intentionally converting myself into a brand' p. 83 and as
their fame grows so do the compromises she makes trying to stay in
the front of the internet storm. One of the casualties of their fame
is April's relationship with her partner Maya and it dawns on her
that life will never be the same again. As it becomes more and more
apparent that the sculptures are not of this world April finds that,
while her audience still strongly link her with the Carls, they
start to polarise into either loving her or hating her. 'People all
over the world whom I had never met and would never meet hated me.
Hated. And what they thought about me was completely out of my
control' p. 168. As the plot unfolds April bravely tries to counter
the negativity and fear using the power of collaboration and open
communication with the online community, harnessing human talent and
ingenuity beyond individual possibilities and beyond borders.
Hank Green, with his famous author brother John Green, and his own
internet fame as a blogger and YouTube science educator understands
celebrity and contemporary culture better than most and the
technical side of the story was refreshingly thorough. April is an
engaging narrator, wryly acknowledging the compromises and mistakes
she makes but sometimes the author's commentary on the strengths and
weaknesses of contemporary culture gets in the way of the story.
Set in today's globally connected world this is a relevant book for
a wide range of readers, from young adults who might be warned of
exploitation, to older readers who might discover the true extent of
the online world and how it impacts our lives.
Sue Speck
Night walk by Alison Binks
Berbay Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9780994384171
Themes: Nature; Friendship; Connection. Set on a camping holiday in
a pristine setting, Caspar leaves his tent in the middle of the
night to discover the wonders of what is there. Stars in abundance,
night creatures and trails, smells and solitude . . . and the wonder
of the natural world are there to be discovered and enjoyed. As he
reflects, he also considers what his friend will be doing on her
holiday, far away.
The illustrations in this book are delightful, and although the text
tries to capture the delight of camping and the exploration of
nature for the child who has the confidence to leave his tent alone
in the middle of the night, there is always the feeling that words
cannot really convey all that is wondrous about the night in the
natural world. (There is a little bit of caution in me for the
unsupervised walk through the bush in the dark with a torch and a
whistle, but this is evocative fiction!) The author has delightfully
book-ended Caspar's story with the experience of the natural world
across the globe for his friend Levi.
A book that could be added to a library collection for young readers
with no difficulty.
Carolyn Hull
Mr. Bambuckle's Remarkables go wild by Tim Harris
Ill. by James Hart. Penguin, 2018. ISBN 9780143789024
(Age: 7-12) Recommended. Themes: Humour, School life, Teachers,
Outdoor education. As with the other two books in the series, Mr
Bambuckle's remarkables and Mr
Bambuckle's Remarkables fight back, there are short stories
within, narrated by students, as well as dialogue (again with
Canteen Carol and Mr. Bambuckle), hand-written notes and
illustrations.
Although the School Principal, Mr. Sternblast, has not succeeded in
getting rid of the fabulous teacher, Mr. Bambuckle, he has managed
to bring back and engage a new Deputy Principal, Miss Frost! Mr.
Bambuckle decides to take the kids out to camp with the cantankerous
Canteen Carol - interestingly, he tells her to provide for the kids
and TWO grown-ups. This is because he happens to know that Miss
Frost will gatecrash the camp!
More wild adventures follow but the strange thing is Mr. Bambuckle
seems to like Miss Frost and is doing all he can to melt her icy
character. Also, one of the kids has a grudge and it requires Mr.
Bambuckle's skills to thwart the student's attempts to cause
trouble, but he wants to win this kid around too. Will he succeed?
Donna Isgar
There's a baddie running through this book by Shelly Unwin and Vivienne To
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760630614
(Age: Preschool+) Recommended. Themes: Humour, Books, Robbers and
outlaws, Theft. There's a baddie running through this book
is a fun, action packed and engrossing story which encourages
children to follow the path of destruction left by the baddie (a
racoon). From page one he sneaks his way through the pages stealing
different things from other animals he meets. Each time he steals
something, it is a piece of paper torn from the illustration, asking
children look more closely at the drawings and seeing where the torn
piece fits. This encourages interaction on a different level as they
must use spatial skills to see how the pieces align.
The thief leaves a trail of sweets and nuts behind him as he makes
his way, and this allows the police and those from whom he has
stolen to follow and catch him. When he is caught all the goods are
returned to their rightful owners and he is locked up, but in
tearing a piece of the illustration showing the jail, the question
must be asked, how long will he stay behind bars?
The illustrations are great fun encouraging children to pick out the
baddie in his mask, with his sack over his shoulder, while laughing
at the disruption that he leaves behind and sympathising with those
who have lost goods. The book will easily lead classes to discuss
the idea of law and order, encouraging them to see what mayhem the
thief causes, and how upset those he has stolen from can be. They
will see that his crimes lead to jail time, but the twist in the
tale gives a hint that he may escape.
I loved the cleverly torn pieces of the drawings, encouraging
children to use their eyes and think about how each piece fits, and
where the pieces come from. I love the endpapers with the array of
characters from the story, encouraging readers to recognise and name
each animal.
The rhyming pairs of lines encourage readers to predict the last
word of each line, while the use of 'up' and 'down', 'above' and
'below', 'fast ' and 'slow', 'left' and 'right', all reiterate words
used every day. The seemingly simple rhyme is infectious: There's
a baddie running through this book, Turn the pages; have a look.
There he goes, did you see? Sound your siren, chase with me
(Publisher) and a joy to read aloud.
Fran Knight
The funny life of pets by James Campbell
Ill. by Rob Jones. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408889947
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Pets; Humour. Written with the
potential for choosing your own path through the muddle of
information and complete fabrication related to pets and owning
pets, this is essentially a book of nonsense. Campbell obviously has
a great sense of humour that would appeal to the generation that
loves fart jokes and stories about poo and is mildly interested in
animals. Note: serious interest in animals should automatically
preclude you from reading this book, and certainly it should never
be used as a source of reliable information for a school project!
But this information is clearly spelled out in the introduction. The
quirky illustrations (similar in style to Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
would instantly reveal that this book is designed to amuse and not
educate. Young people will probably enjoy the silly humour, but this
is not a work of great literature, and the constant references to
the disgusting things that animals do may offend animal lovers and
some adults. There are certainly many times when the 'facts' are
fake and the animals are the work of an active imagination.
Recommended with caution, as diversionary reading material for the
reluctant reader who likes animals and who says they want a funny
book. But if you want them to avoid reading material that mentions
poo, bottom-burps and bums this may not be a book to put in their
hands. But don't be surprised if their best friend shares it with
them!
Carolyn Hull
Mirror Mirror by Cara Delevingne (with Rowan Coleman)
Trapeze, 2017. ISBN 9781409172758
(Ages 16+) Highly recommended. Red, Naomi, Leo and Rose are four
misfits who become the closest of friends upon the formation of
their band, Mirror Mirror. Band rehearsal is an escape for all four,
giving them momentary freedom from the hardships they face in their
regular lives. Red has an alcoholic mother and often absent father,
Leo's criminal brother encourages him to follow in his footsteps,
Rose uses alcohol and boys to numb her painful past and Naomi runs
away from home to finally be free. Just as the band are coming to
terms with their group identity and feel as close as a family, Naomi
goes missing and subsequently turns up half dead in the Thames. The
police believe that she did this to herself but Red begins to find
clues suggesting that things are not as they seem. The trio decide
that they must take matters into their own hands to truly find out
what happened to Naomi.
A tale of determination, mystery and friendship in the face of
adversity, this novel reminds its reader that they are stronger than
they know and can make a difference in this world. In her debut
novel, Delevingne presents realistic characters, deep emotional
twists and an all-round inspiring story. Through Red, the reader is
brought on a journey of self-discovery while learning some powerful
messages along the way.
A beautiful yet sorrowful story that truly captures the turbulence
that is our teenage years.
Daniella Chiarolli
The boys from St Francis by Ashley Mallett
Wakefield Press, 2018. ISBN 9781743055809
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Non-fiction. In 1945, six Alice Springs
mothers parted with their sons, sending them off into the trusted
hands of kindly Father Smith and his wife Isobel, to gain a better
education in Adelaide. They were part of Father Smith's assimilation
experiment: his belief that young Aboriginal children offered a high
level of education would have a better chance in life. He wanted
them to be proud of their Aboriginal heritage but also to succeed in
the white world.
However need for greater financial support led Smith to be persuaded
by the Australian Board of Missions to extend his original concept
to allow for up to 50 'part-Aboriginal' boys to be included in his
scheme - boys of the Stolen Generations, taken from their mothers.
And while the boys remember Father Smith with affection, his dreams
were gradually eroded by lack of funds and when he finally abandoned
them, Smith was replaced by series of sadistic and cruel
superintendents. That many of the boys were able to survive those
times and go on to achieve in a variety of fields, is due more to
their strength of character and determination not to be beaten, than
to any care they received. They had to learn to fight to protect
themselves; many found a path to respect and acceptance on the
sports field. Wally Macarthur was a champion athlete, John Moriarty
became the first man of Aboriginal descent to play soccer for
Australia, Charlie Perkins played international soccer, many played
rugby league or Australian Rules football.
They all faced racism - from being asked to leave the Balfours cake
shop, to being denied opportunity to represent Australia in the
Olympics, to being expected to sign a certificate of 'exemption' of
Aboriginality to access the ordinary rights of other Australians.
Charlie Perkins famously led the freedom bus ride visiting NSW
country towns to focus attention on the blatant racism and
segregation that was life for Aboriginal Australians. Yet despite
all that they endured in those times, so many of the boys of St
Francis went on to become exceptionally high achievers. You can read
about Charlie Perkins, soccer star and activist; Bill Espie,
policeman, awarded the Queen's Medal for bravery; Malcolm Cooper,
first Aboriginal player to play for Port Adelaide in a grand final;
John Moriarty, designer; Gordon Briscoe, history professor; Harold
Thomas, creator of the Aboriginal flag; Vince Copley, Australian
Rules footballer and AM in the Queen's Birthday 2014 Honours List;
the list goes on. Their stories are ones of sadness and joy,
loneliness and friendship, hard work, perseverance and warm-hearted
humour.
Ashley Mallett's book highlights the amazing impact that the boys
from St Francis had on Australian society. He would like to see
their stories more widely known. A good start would be to have this
book in every school library.
Helen Eddy
The tales of Mr Walker by Jess Black
Penguin Books Australia, 2018. ISBN 9780143793076
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Subtitled A hotel dog with a nose for
adventure. On a brilliant Autumn's day, Mr Walker arrives at
the grandest hotel in town. While things get off to a wobbly start,
this charming Labrador is determined to put his best paw forward.
And it's just as well because the most unexpected adventures await... The tales of Mr Walker contains four delightful stories
inspired by the real-life Mr Walker, a Guide Dog Ambassador who now
calls Park Hyatt Melbourne home.
This is an absolutely beautiful book for ages 7 and up. Once trained
to be a guide dog, Mr Walker finds himself as an ambassador at the
Park Hyatt in Melbourne. He is an endearing dog, with likeable
traits who soon finds himself popular with the guests. The book
contains four heart warming stories that are beautifully
illustrated. Mr Walker learns the many quirky traits of people and
frequently adapts his behaviour to suit their needs.
I love the fact that the royalties from this book support the Guide
Dogs of Victoria. I am sure there will be more adventures of Mr
Walker.
Kathryn Schumacher
Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson
Ill. by Sharon King-Chai. Two Hoots, 2018. ISBN 9781509801633
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Themes: Cut out. Animals. This alphabet book
of animals will easily draw children's eyes across each page as they
predict the next letter of the alphabet and wonder which animal will
be offered when turning each wonder-filled page. The descriptions of
each animal take in some of their characteristics, ensuring the
reader learns a little as they read. On the first page we see a
little ant and the reader is asked what is more beautiful. Turning
the page they see a beautiful butterfly in all of its glory, and
then they are asked what has more legs. Turning the page the answer
is the caterpillar, and then the elephant follows with its size
outstripping that of the caterpillar. In this way, Donaldson asks
the reader to predict the animal starting with the next letter, and
they can compare each as it appears. From A to Z, the animals
appear, looming large on each page, filled with colour and wondrous
backgrounds. But much more is there to lure the young reader.
Pages sometimes have a flap to lift, revealing the answer to the
question posed on the previous page, or more information, while
others have cut-outs to peer into the next page, or emphasise the
shape of the animal in question. Each page will dazzle and delight,
inform and tease, excite and enthral as the readers' eyes take in
the detailed drawings before them. King-Chai, now living in London,
brings a different style of illustration to this work, full of
design features with enormous appeal.
Fran Knight
The Champion Charlies: The grand finale by Adrian Beck
Ill. by Adele K. Thomas. Penguin Publishing, 2018. ISBN
9780143791300
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Easy to read. Champion Charlies is a
hilarious junior fiction series of books for boys and girls that
celebrates the great game of football. The grand finale is
Book 4 in the series. Others reviewed are The
mix-up and The
Knockout Cup.
The Jets have reached the Grand Final against their arch rivals, The
Hammerheads. The build up to the game is intense and a few of the
Jets are starting to crack under the pressure. To make matters
worse, CJ's sworn enemy, Lenny 'the gorilla' Lincoln, is leading the
attack for the Hammerheads. It's up to Charlotte to get the Jets
back on track. But will her tactics be enough when they're out on
the field?
Donna Isgar
The Bogan Mondrian by Steven Herrick
University of Queensland Press, 2018. ISBN 9780702259982
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: Coming of age, Domestic
violence, Alcoholism. Herrick once again delivers a stunning look at
adolescence with some very strong themes of responsibility and
friendship threading throughout the easy to read novel. As Charlotte
says: 'There are worse things than school.' When Luke becomes
friends with her things begin to change. He has been trying to get
over the death of his father, wagging school and spending time at
the reservoir, but with a visit to Charlotte's house, comes the
discovery that wealth and power can hide some awful things.
I found this to be a very compulsive read and managed to finish it
in one sitting. Herrick is a master at delving into the mind of
young men, and his portrayal of Luke is thoughtful and compelling.
Luke's father was a smoker, drinker and spent his money gambling but
he was also loving and cheerful. His death has had a huge impact on
Luke, who spends his time taking photos around his Blue Mountains
home. He has a great relationship with his mother and knows that he
is loved. Charlotte on the other hand has arrived in town, with
rumours about her expulsion from school and hints of a new start.
She comes from a wealthy family and her home and money is an
eye-opener for Luke who comes from the wrong side of the highway.
It is Luke's sense of responsibility and loyalty to his friends that
shines through the novel and could provoke a lot of discussion if
The bogan Mondrian was used as a class novel.
I love the funny talk about verse novels: 'Why didn't the poet just
tell the story in the normal way?' and the exposition of Mondrian's
art work is fascinating. Country life in the Blue Mountains is also
compellingly described as are the interactions with Luke's teachers
and friendly neighbours. And the dog Buster is a character in
himself.
Lyrical prose, excellent representation of life at school and some
thought provoking themes make this an outstanding read for classroom
and a must have for libraries.
Pat Pledger
The puffin book of summer stories: eight favourite Australian picture books
Penguin Random House Australia, 2018. ISBN 9780143793540
(Age: 3-7) Highly recommended. Themes: Summer, Beaches, Ocean,
Grandparents, Dogs. This is a stunning collection of eight
outstanding picture books about summer. The titles include many
classics stories that will be familiar as well as some that have not
been in print for some time: Summer by June Factor, illustrated by Alison Lester (1988) Grandpa and Thomas by Pamela Allen (2003) My hippopotamus is on our caravan roof getting sunburnt by
Hazel Edwards, illustrated by Deborah Niland (1990) Eve and
Elly by Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Laura Wood (2016)
Castles by Allan Baillie, illustrated by Caroline Magerl
(2005) Seadog
by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Tom Jellett (2013) There's a sea in my bedroom by Margaret Wild, illustrated by
Jane Tanner. (1984) Max by Marc Martin (2013)
All the stories are wonderful and have been carefully selected by
the publisher to bring alive summer in Australia. The Australian
experience of the seaside is evoked vividly in Grandpa and
Thomas, as the pair build a sandcastle and cavort in the
waves, while June Factor's text in Summer, brings to life
Australian Christmas traditions, with gorgeous evocative
illustrations by Alison Lester. Eve and Elly is a personal
favourite, depicting the dismay of a child who has lost her
favourite toy elephant and the problems that her loving parents have
in trying to replace it. Castles by Allan Baillie was new to
me and I love the fantasy elements in it as a young girl, a
Princess, built a castle on the beach and enjoyed it until a Pirate
came along. Caroline Magerl's illustrations show a soaring castle in
the clouds and galleon with cannons that toppled the castle's towers
and both illustrations cleverly combine the ordinary day at the
beach with the imaginative world of the two children. Our dog is
a seadog will particularly appeal to children who own dogs as
he scatters gulls and jumps and chases the waves. The story of the
little girl in My hippopotamus is on our caravan roof getting
sunburnt by Hazel Edwards is a celebration of the imagination,
as she tries to convince everyone that there is a hippopotamus on
the caravan roof or riding a surfboard making waves. There's a
sea in my bedroom by Margaret Wild has all the fabulous
aspects that one expects from this author and illustrator as an
exuberant little boy imagines he has unleashed the sea from a large
seashell he had found and discovers that he is no longer afraid of
the sea. Children will be delighted as Max the seagull finally finds
Bob who has left his fish and chip shop for another location.
This collection contains an outstanding group of picture books. It
would be a wonderful gift for young children and would greatly
enhance any unit of work about summer and the seaside in the
classroom.
Pat Pledger
Girls of paper and fire by Natasha Ngan
Hodder and Stoughton, 2018. ISBN 9781473692190
(Age: senior secondary) Highly recommended. Not suitable for young
readers. Contains scenes of violence and sexual assault (not
described but heavily implied). Themes: YA, fantasy, LGBT+.
Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted
class of people in Ikhara. Ten years ago, her mother was snatched by
the royal guards, and her fate remains unknown. Now, the guards are
back and this time it's Lei they're after - the girl with the golden
eyes, whose rumoured beauty has piqued the king's interest.
Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and
eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit a king's
consort. There, Lei does the unthinkable - she falls in love. Her
forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that
threatens her world's entire way of life and Lei, still the
wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she's willing
to go for justice and revenge. Girls of Paper and Fire is an intriguing analysis of
significant societal issues including racism, abuse, and consent,
with Ngan's writing opening many pathways for discussion. The
characters come from various Asian backgrounds and are diverse and
complex, a brilliant example of well-rounded representation. Their
unique, masterfully crafted backstories and motives allow the reader
to connect and identify with the struggles of both main and minor
characters. Lei's characterisation and continued defiance of the
oppressive ruling system emphasised the importance of continuously
opposing injustice and never giving in to despair. Ngan's
description of the way Lei fell in love was beautifully written and
philosophical, revealing the great lengths people will go to for
people they care about. While the story is confronting, it critiques
and challenges these issues and starts much-needed discussions. Ngan
writes with elegance and poise, handling these serious topics with
grace.
Despite the story's dark nature, it conveys positive messages for
people who have experienced traumas similar to those of the paper
girls, detailing the value of healthy relationships, the power of
female strength, and reminds the audience of humanity's ability to
find hope in darkness, to not just survive, but to live through
struggles.
This novel was an engrossing read which, while dark, aims to lift
its readers and remind them of their own power and ability to create
change.
Stephanie Lam
The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408889930
(Age: 10+) 'Set your sails east with this stunningly original new
history of the world. Peter Frankopan, number one bestselling author
and historian, explores the connections made by people, trade,
disease, war, religion, adventure, science and technology in this
extraordinary book with a remarkable voyage at its heart - the
journey along the Silk Roads. From ancient world laws laid down by
Kind Hammurabi and the mighty Persian empire, to terrifying Huns,
the rise of Europe, two world wars and politics today, The Silk
Roads moves through time and history sewing the threads from
different peoples, empires and continents into a phenomenal history
of the globe.' (Publisher)
This book is absolutely exquisite. The illustrations are to die for
and the detailed accounts of the times in history are informative
and easy to read. The book centres around Europe and the Middle
East, with other countries being mentioned briefly. It begins with
Medieval times and passes through centuries finishing in the 2000s.
Each chapter is divided into an historical period and the
significant events that influenced it. The book does not provide
indepth information about each time, but it does entice the reader
to seek more information. The book is unique in that it delivers the
historical content from an Asian perspective, rather than the
traditional USA and English.
This would be a welcome addition to the collection for readers 10
and up or it would make a beautiful coffee table book.
Kathryn Schumacher
